Archive for the ‘Conservation’ Category

As a child of the 70’s, I have celebrated Earth Day for almost 40 years now and I am amused at the current trend to “GO GREEN.” Everyone has jumped on the bandwagon for having a “green” home, “green” car, “green world” and yet…it is the same thing we have been preaching for 40 years. I am just silly enough to believe that all of a sudden it is the buzz word of the century. It is the new fad for movie stars. It is the favorite word of the day. The newspapers and media are all over going “green”.

Now I hope you don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am all about energy conservation and the environment. My favorite author, for those who really understand the environment, is Wendell Berry. If you want to understand the world and what it really means to someone committed to the environment then start reading the words of Wendell Berry. I know he is not a famous celebrity but Mr. Berry is serious about the environment and he doesn’t need some electricity-wasting benefit concert using maximum amps and wasteful wattage to make his point. He is the real deal. Wendell Berry makes his point by the way he LIVES his life and through his words.

We don’t need HGTV to tell us how to live “green.” We need common sense and the ability to treat each other and the environment with respect. We need to ask China, Brazil, Australia and India to get serious about pollution. We need to ask our American politicians to do more than play lip service to celebrities and really get serious about the legacy we will leave to our children. I grew up in a three bedroom, one bath house that was probably about 1,700 square feet with no air conditioning in Miami, Florida. We weren’t poor…that was just the standard house of the day.

Why do people now need 4,000 square feet for two people? Why does everyone need a plasma TV per room? Why do celebrities, who REALLY preach the green gospel, have homes that consume more energy than some small cities? It’s all just too hypocritical.

Finally, here are a few simple suggestions that can get you started if you are serious about going “green” and want to make a difference. They come from the Environmental Working Group:

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As for me, the answer lies within all of us. Love thy neighbor and don’t pollute! Like we learned in Girl Scouts…leave the place a little better than you found it and in the immortal words of Louis Armstrong, what a wonderful world that would be”

Cheers, Linda

PS: I know this is a luxury home blog but sometimes I just like to promote a topic that hopefully will touch all people who claim ownership of this great world in which we live.